Tube bender angle indicator

Abstract

A tube bender angle indicator is attached to the handle of a manual tube bender and has a frame to which angle indicia are applied which define an apex through which a pointer is pivotally connected to the frame. A bubble level vial is secured to the pointer so as to indicate that the bend angle has been achieved which the pointer is pointing at when the bubble is in its horizontal reference position.

I claim: 
     
       1. A tube bender angle indicator, comprising: a frame having angle scale indicia in a certain orientation thereon, said orientation corresponding to a certain type of tube bender, said angle scale identifying various bend angles of said type of tube bender and defining an apex;   an angle pointer connected to said frame to pivot about an axis which approximately intersects said apex, said frame pointer being rotatable relative to said frame about said axis to select one of said bend angles;   a bubble level vial secured to said pointer for indicating when said vial is in a certain reference orientation relative to the horizon; and   means for affixing said frame to said tube bender in a fixed orientation so that said vial is in said reference orientation with said pointer at a zero degree position of said angle scale and said tube bender in a zero degree position.   
     
     
       2. An angle indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means are for affixing said frame to a handle of a tube bender. 
     
     
       3. An angle indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vial is straight. 
     
     
       4. An angle indicator as claimed in claim 3, wherein said vial is secured to an upper surface of said pointer. 
     
     
       5. An angle indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein both sides of said frame have bend angle indicia defining an apex common to both sides, and said pointer has a hand on each side with which to select an angle on the respective side. 
     
     
       6. A method of bending a tube with a manual tube bender having an angle indicator as claimed in claim 1 fixed to the bender, comprising the steps of: adjusting said pointer to a desired bend angle; and   operating said bender to bend said tube until said level indicates said level is in said reference orientation.   
     
     
       7. A tube bender angle indicator, comprising: a frame having angle scale indicia thereon, said angle scale identifying various bend angles and defining an apex;   an angle pointer connected to said frame to pivot about an axis which approximately intersects said apex, said frame pointer being rotatable relative to said frame about said axis to select one of said bend angles; and   a level secured to said pointer for indicating when said level is in a certain reference orientation;   wherein both sides of said frame have bend angle indicia defining an apex common to both sides, and said pointer has a hand on each side with which to select an angle on the respective side;   wherein said selected bend angle differs from one side to the other for a given angular position of the pointer relative to the frame.